Two Caseville firefighters injured while battling blaze

According to Caseville Area Fire Chief Ken Hill, firefighters Aaron Britt and Shawn Dunn were both taken to Scheurer Hospital on Tuesday morning.

Hill said that Britt was inside the home working to put the fire out when he injured his back. While Dunn was working separately outside of the home, Hill said that the foam and water Dunn was spraying on the fire blew back at him and scratched his eyes, causing him to seek medical treatment.

According to Hill, both Dunn and Britt were treated at the hospital for their injuries and later released.

The single-story home where the firefighters were injured was owned by Donald Stevenson. Hill said that Stevenson, who lives in the home alone, was at home when the fire started in the attached garage.

Hill said he believes that the electrical furnace in the garage was the cause of the Tuesday morning fire.

Stevenson's home and its contents, valued at approximately $150,000, were a complete loss in the fire. Hill said that Stevenson heard the smoke alarm sounding around 5 a.m. and went out to see what was going on when he noticed the fire already burning in the garage. The fire spread up into the ceiling and then into the living room just off of the garage.

Stevenson told firefighters he tried to call to report the fire from his home but the fire had already burned the phone line. He then went next door with his dog to a nearby neighbor's home where he reported the fire.

Caseville firefighters were on the scene until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. They received tanker assistance from the Port Austin Fire Department.

Hill said that the extremely cold temperatures Tuesday made battling the blaze a bit more difficult.

"It was so cold that, as fast as the water was sprayed and hit the ground, it froze, making it slippery and difficult for us to get around," said Hill.